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Massive deep-sea sulphide ore deposits discovered on the East Pacific Rise

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Abstract

Massive ore-grade zinc, copper and iron sulphide deposits have been found at the axis of the East Pacific Rise. Although their presence on the deep ocean-floor had been predicted there was no supporting observational evidence. The East Pacific Rise deposits represent a modern analogue of Cyprus-type sulphide ores associated with ophiolitic rocks on land. They contain at least 29% zinc metal and 6% metallic copper. Their discovery will provide a new focus for deep-sea exploration, leading to new assessments of the concentration of metals in the upper layers of the oceanic crust.

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Author notes

  1. J. Francheteau: The authors are all members of the CYAMEX Scientific Team.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Océanologique de Bretagne,

    J. Francheteau & H. D. Needham

  2. Université de Rennes, Laboratoire de Géologie structurale, B.P. 25 A, 35031, Rennes Cedex, France

    P. Choukroune

  3. Université Louis Pasteur, Laboratoire de Minéralogie–Pétrographie, 1, rue Blessig, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    T. Juteau

  4. Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Laboratoire de Géologie structurale, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34000, Montpellier, France

    M. Séguret

  5. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543

    R. D. Ballard

  6. State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, 12222

    P. J. Fox

  7. United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, 94025

    W. Normark

  8. Centro de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, 20, DF, Mexico

    A. Carranza

  9. Instituto de Geologia, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico, 20, DF, Mexico

    D. Cordoba, J. Guerrero & C. Rangin

  10. Centre Océanologique de Bretagne, B.P. 337, 29273, Brest Cedex, France

    H. Bougault, P. Cambon & R. Hekinian

Authors
  1. J. Francheteau
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  2. H. D. Needham
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  3. P. Choukroune
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  4. T. Juteau
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  5. M. Séguret
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  6. R. D. Ballard
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  7. P. J. Fox
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  8. W. Normark
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  9. A. Carranza
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  10. D. Cordoba
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  11. J. Guerrero
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  12. C. Rangin
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  13. H. Bougault
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  14. P. Cambon
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  15. R. Hekinian
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Francheteau, J., Needham, H., Choukroune, P. et al. Massive deep-sea sulphide ore deposits discovered on the East Pacific Rise. Nature 277, 523–528 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277523a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/277523a0

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